Seattle arena architects promise to be ‘good neighbor’

Architects for a new Seattle arena say it will become a neighborhood landmark rather than a "black box" like arenas of the past. (Conceptual drawing via Seattle Department of Planning and Development)

The architects designing a new Seattle arena say the building will be a “landmark” and a good neighbor for the SoDo area.

The Seattle Times reports Brad Schrock, senior principal for 360 Architecture, told a city Design Review Board Tuesday night that the new facility proposed by investor Chris Hansen will be unique and won’t be like many generic arenas built in other cities.

“We’re doing everything we can to encourage connection on all sides of the building so it becomes a gateway and a beacon,” Schrock told the panel.

Architects on the team told the board they’re planning a design that allows fans to see views of landmarks like Mount Rainier and the waterfront from the new building.

They also addressed the board’s questions about pedestrian access, especially over the nearby train tracks. The architects said they’re planning a number of connections along with a restaurant or bar to make the area pedestrian friendly.

The design team released its first conceptual drawings earlier this month showing some general ideas of what an arena in the area might look like. The firm is expected to give a first look at detailed architectural drawings on Friday, Nov. 28.

The design review is just one step in what’s expected to be a year-long process before approval is granted to start work on the proposed $490 million, 725,000-square-foot-arena.